Monday, August 11, 2014
Read
'n Review
"I loved your book. When is
your next one coming out? I can't wait to read it." Comments like these
certainly help to keep me writing when I am struggling with a story or finding
excuses to stay away from the keyboard.
Note I said less
positive not negative. Another way of saying it is, constructive criticism. I'm not talking about reviews that include
spoilers or destructive overtones. No
one appreciates sour grapes.
Positive reviews offer feel good
moments; less positive ones can help authors improve their craft. Sour grape reviews are like the sting of a venomous
spider. They spread poison right into
the veins of our self esteem. Authors and readers need to consider the source
and delete negative ones from their minds and their computers. Authors take a long, tedious, and often maddening
journey to write, edit, and complete a manuscript. We readers may not like every book but I would hope that we appreciate the
author’s efforts and find some merit in his or her achievement. If it’s a published book, someone felt its
content needed to reach the public.
Why not write a
review?
Unfortunately, when I ask readers
who have enjoyed one of my books if they would write a review on the purchase
site, too often I hear:
"I'm
not good at writing reviews."
"I
meant to do that but I've been so busy."
"I
read too many books. It takes too much time."
I’m
speaking of the average reader, not professional reviewers. I ask occasionally because
I’m still building my career as so many new authors are doing and reviews add
momentum, encouragement, and increase sales.
Avoid letting one
review sway you from a purchase.
I often go on Amazon and read
reviews for a product I want to buy. I never read just one. I read many reviews
to gain a broader perspective. I am not turned off by less positive ones unless
the same issues are presented in a few customer comments. We all have different
tastes and expectations and not everyone appreciates the same qualities in a
product.
Writing a review
takes little time out of your day.
Reviews
do not have to be polished or lengthy. They just need to be thoughtful and
fair. As a teacher who has often had my students do peer editing, I encourage
them to say something positive before giving constructive criticism.
Reader reviews can be just a sentence or two.
"I
couldn't put this book down. It gave me hours of pleasure."
"Great
book. Loved the suspense and despised the villain. I want to read more from
this author."
"The
plot was intriguing and kept me reading but I prefer less description and more
action."
Consider the influence
and power of a simple review.
A
thoughtful review is a blessing to an author and compelling to a reader. Authors
make a small amount on each book they sell. Often only pennies. They spend
hours upon hours writing, editing, and struggling with plot and characters to
create tension and cohesiveness. When a manuscript is complete, more hours are
spent finding a publisher or going through the grueling steps of self
publishing. When a book is finally on the market, it's the author's baby going
out into the world and they wait anxiously for those first reviews.
Please
take a few minutes and write a sentence, two, or three when you finish a book.
If you love it, try another from the same author. If you just liked it, read
reviews for the same author’s other books. Another by the same writer might be
more captivating. Regardless, keep
reading and write those reviews!
Blessing,
Elaine
ps.
Speaking of reviews, what a pleasure it was this week to receive a review from
a well known review site, Jeep Diva. It was extra special since it was on my
very first published novel, Regal Reward that came out in 2007. The
first is always closest to a writer's heart.
Excerpt:
I
appreciate your comments!
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Great post, Elaine. I don't review every book, but I try to get to the newly published ones like you. I know what a difference those early reviews can make. And like mama always said, "If you don't have something nice to say..." I only leave reviews if I can give a book 4 stars or better. I appreciate constructive feedback, but even with thick skin, those nasty reviews can really bite. I love the venemous spider analogy!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I, also, don't review every book I read. Love your comment about the venomness of bad reviews.
ReplyDeleteTweeted.
Thanks, PJ and Victoria for your comments!
ReplyDeleteElaine
High, girl!
ReplyDeleteWouldn’t ya love an endless eternity of aplomBombs
falling on thy indelible, magnificent, vigilant cranium?
An XtraXcitinXpose with no
zooillogical-expiration-date,
with an IQ much higher than K2,
and an extraordinarily, sawcy, rowdy victory??
Here’s what the prolific GODy sed:
(what could be MOE exciting than the 3-Stooges??)
“Faith, hope, and love,
the greatest of these is love -
jumpy into faith...
and you'll see with love”
Doesn’t matter if you don’t believe
(what I write);
God believes in you.
God. Blessa. Youse -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL
Meet me Upstairs, girl, where the Son never goes down…